Description
This Easy Mardi Gras King Cake recipe captures the festive spirit of New Orleans with a sweet, cinnamon-filled bread topped with a classic glaze and colorful sprinkles. Perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras at home, this cake combines soft yeast dough with a buttery cinnamon-sugar filling and a vibrant, decorative finish. Enjoy a slice of tradition that’s both fun and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
Filling
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (for spreading)
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- Colored sprinkles (purple, green, and gold ideally, for decoration)
Instructions
- Activate yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm milk and active dry yeast. Let it sit until frothy, about 5 minutes, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix dough: Add melted butter, granulated sugar, salt, eggs, and half of the flour to the yeast mixture. Mix well to combine, then gradually add the remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare filling: While the dough rises, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl for the filling.
- Shape dough: After the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out into a rectangular shape on a lined baking sheet or floured surface.
- Add filling and roll: Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top. Starting from one long side, roll the dough tightly into a log.
- Form cake: Shape the rolled dough into an oval and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let it rise again for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake: Bake the King Cake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Glaze and decorate: Let the cake cool slightly. Mix powdered sugar with milk or cream until smooth and drizzle over the top of the warm cake. Decorate with colorful sprinkles representing Mardi Gras colors.
Notes
- Ensure the milk is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- The cake is best enjoyed the day it’s made but can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power), so use sprinkles of these colors to stay authentic.
- You can add optional fillings such as cream cheese or fruit preserves for variation.
- This cake contains gluten and dairy, so it is not suitable for gluten-free or vegan diets without modifications.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 of cake)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
